Thursday Murder Club, #2
The Man Who Died Twice
by Richard Osman
Contents
Chapter 68
Overview
Donna relaxes at Chris’s, FaceTiming her mum, Patrice, while reflecting on renewed purpose after speaking with Ibrahim. Chris behaves oddly when Patrice’s doorbell rings, but it’s only political canvassers. The scene closes with Elizabeth summoning the Thursday Murder Club to meet, signaling the next move in the diamonds case.
Summary
Donna spends the evening at Chris’s flat, sharing whisky and watching Succession. Buoyed by her talk with Ibrahim, Donna resolves to re-engage with life. Chris, who resists new TV, indulges her choice, revealing their comfortable but contrasting habits.
They FaceTime Donna’s mum, Patrice, whose affectionate banter with Chris amuses Donna. When Patrice’s doorbell rings, Chris urgently urges her to ignore it, acting uncharacteristically anxious. Donna notices his jiggling leg and distraction, sensing something is off.
Patrice returns, explaining it was only Liberal Democrat canvassers. Chris immediately relaxes, and Donna clocks his self-consciousness but drops it. The moment hints at Chris’s protective streak toward Patrice without revealing a concrete threat.
As the evening winds down, Donna receives a text from Elizabeth: the Thursday Murder Club is convening at eleven the next day in the Jigsaw Room. The message shifts focus back to the ongoing diamonds investigation and sets up the group’s next coordinated step.
Who Appears
- DonnaDetective spending an evening with Chris; regains resolve after talking with Ibrahim; receives Elizabeth’s meeting summons.
- ChrisDonna’s colleague/partner; FaceTimes with Patrice; acts nervously at Patrice’s doorbell before relaxing when it’s canvassers.
- PatriceDonna’s mother; chats warmly with Chris; briefly leaves to answer the door to political canvassers.
- ElizabethLeader figure; texts Donna to convene the Thursday Murder Club meeting for the next day.